Search yields no clues in Kesse case

Almost six years after Jennifer Kesse vanished from her Orlando condominium, law-enforcement launched a new ground search Friday for the missing woman, but found nothing of significance.

Orlando Police think Kesse, who was 24 when she disappeared, was abducted from her condominium near the Mall at Millenia on January 24, 2006.

Just days later, her Chevrolet Malibu was discovered about a mile away at the intersection of Americana Boulevard and Texas Avenue.

Orlando police officers were following up on an old tip Friday. They couldn't search the properties near World Center Drive — about 10 miles from Kesse's condo — before Friday because the land was under water for so long, said Orlando Police Sgt. Vincent Ogburn.

Kesse's father Drew told news crews outside the search scene that he wished officers found something.

"She needs to come home," Drew Kesse said. "One of these times, we were hoping it was today, we're going to find something that's going to lead us to Jennifer."

Dozens of law-enforcement vehicles lined South International Drive throughout the day, but not much of the actual search was visible from the ground, as the search occurred deep in the dense woods.

Deputies from Orange and Osceola aided in the search. Mounted units from multiple agencies were used, as were ATVs and K-9s.

Since her disappearance, Orlando police have launched multiple ground searches in their efforts to find Jennifer Kesse or clues that will lead investigators to her whereabouts.

"It is an absolutely amazing, amazing thing that happened out here today," Drew Kesse said of the search effort. "Unfortunately, nothing came up."